Indian Antiquary Vol 51

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarkar
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 79

APRIL, 1922] THE HISTORY OF THE NIZAM SHAHI KINGS OF AHMADNAGAR
defeat was entirely due to Bihzâd-ul-Mulk's having been appointed commander-in-chief, or although it could not be denied that of bravery, generosity, personal beauty and good nature Bihzâd-ul-Mulk had a large share, he was utterly inexperienced in war, and the amirs, knowing that Sayyid Murtaza was available for the command, paid a very unwilling obedience to such a youth.
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Bihzâd-ul-Mulk was now encamped at the village of Dhârâseo, between Naldrug and Sholapur, engaged in nothing but enjoyment and self indulgence when, at about the breakfast hour, his camp was suddenly rushed by the army of Bijapûr with such suddenness that the troops had not time to arm themselves, and could make no attempt at resistance.240 The greater part of the royal army fled, and although Malik Bihaâd-ul-Mulk, with a small force, most gallantly charged the enemy's centre yet, as most of the army had fled, this effort was of little avail, and Bihzâd-ul-Mulk, shedding tears of regret, was at length forced to flee from the field. All the baggage, property, horses, elephants, 241 tents, and camp equipage of Bihzâd-ul-Mulk and his army, fell into the hands of the 'Adil Shahi troops, and thus a strong and well appointed army was scattered in a moment, like a girl's locks by the morning breeze, and wandered over plains and deserts.
The Adil Shahi army thus attained both its objects, and gained large quantities of spoil. The Bijapûrîs in their pride then marched towards Bidar for the purpose of aidin! Barid-ul-Mulk.
When the news of this disgraceful defeat was brought to ṣalâbat Khân, he bitterly regretted having appointed Bihzâd-ul-Mulk who had proved himself to be utterly without foresight and prudence, commander-in-chief. It was all owing to Salabat Khân's enmity against Sayyid Murtaga, that this defeat befell the royal army.
When Bihzâd-ul-Mulk's broken army reached the army of Sayyid Murtaza, he mount ed his horse and rode to some rising ground to one side of his camp and ordered his whole army to arm themselves and to come forth from their camp, and he secretly sent one of his confidential servants to his own tent with orders to remove everything of value, pack it up, and send it to Ahmadnagar and to burn everything else that could not be carried away. It was at nightfall that news of the defeat was brought to Sayyid Murtaşâ, and darkness had fallen by the time that his army came forth from its camp and the sauve qui peut began. Sayyid Murtaza also was compelled to take flight and the whole army fled through the night, resting nowhere till daybreak, so that the hardships endured by the army of Sayyid Murtazâ in their nocturnal flight were not less than those endured by the camp of Bihzad-ul-Mulk in their defeat by day.
The next day, when the Nigâm Shahi army were halted on the bank of a river, spies brought word that the 'Adil Shahi army, after ita victory, had marched at once in the direction of Bidar, 142 without attempting to pursue the fugitives, and Sayyid Murtaza, ashamed of his unreasonable panic and flight, at once set to work to remedy the state of affairs. At
240 Firishta gives two different accounts of his affair. In his chronicles of Bijapur he makes it appear that the army of Bijapur attacked that of Ahmadnagar in daylight, and that the latter was well prepared, but was defeated after a pitched battle. In his chronicles of Ahmadnagar he says that the army of Bijapur fell on that of Ahmadnagar before dawn, when Biheid-ul-Mulk was engaged in a drinking bout, and took it completely by surprise, so that it was able to make no stand.-F. ii. 94, 289.
241 About 150, or, according to another account, about 100 elephants were captured.-F. ii. 95, 280. 243 This passage refers to the siege of Bidar (see above) which is not mentioned by Firishta. It may well be doubted whether Murtaza Nizam Shah, or rather Salabat hin, was attempting simultaneously the annexation of Bijapur and Bidar.